Music For Life

Music is a powerful vehicle for expressing one's emotions - even those we may not be aware of. A workshop sponsored by The Physical Abuse Centre entitled "Music for Life" was given on March 6th, 2002.

The presenter, April Malone, MM, MT-BC is the coordinator of the music therapy programme at Charleston Southern University in South Carolina. Music is a part of daily living. We listen to it in our cars, at work, while we eat dinner, exercise, read, sleep, rest, and play. Music is truly enjoyable and even therapeutic.

The music therapy profession has been around since 1950 and focuses on tapping into the power of music for evoking positive changes in someone's life. Anyone can benefit from music.

We all commonly experience pleasure while listening to music. Not only can we enjoy music, we can learn to learn to use music for self-expression. By paying attention to the types of music you listen to, you can get an idea about how you might be feeling, but aren't aware of.

The insight you gain might be surprising. Do you listen to music with positive lyrics, not-so positive lyrics, or violent lyrics?

Your ability to relate to certain types of music can be an indicator of your emotional health. When you need an expressive outlet, you can create songs. Simply take an existing song, leave out some of the words and fill in the blanks to make the song fit your life situation and feelings. A sense of personal fulfilment can result from doing this.

Various tapes of music can be motivating. Music can energise us to wash the dishes, two-step on the dance floor, or even to exercise. Music provides the structure and the cue for rhythmic movements. Music can also communicate a personal message.

By listening to music with positive messages, we can learn to change our feelings, energy levels and our outlook on life.

Carefully chosen music can focus our attention on a certain musical element which can distract us from anxious thoughts. Certain types of music perceived as relaxing can also facilitate deeper breathing, which in turn increases oxygen to our muscles.

This increased oxygen flow is important for physical relaxation. Appropriate instrumental music selections can prompt mental relaxation by evoking pleasant and relaxing images.

For more information on music therapy, please contact the AMTA at (301) 589-5175 or www.musictherapy.org.